Cheating Scandals

Bill Clinton

Now that former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he fathered a secret child , don't worry if you're finding it hard to keep these cheaters' details straight. Trips to South America. Client No. 9. Foot-tapping in the airport bathroom. With so many amorous politicians on the loose, it's easy to get mixed up. So, here's a refresher on some of the biggest recent political sex scandals, beginning with former President Bill Clinton.

When: Depends on the scandal; the Monica Lewinsky story broke in January 1998.

Infidelity:  18-month affair with the White House intern.

Making it worse: First denied the allegations, then admitted he and Lewinsky had an "inappropriate relationship."

Stand by me: Wife Hillary Clinton  initially defended her husband, calling the allegations part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

Lost: Impeached  on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Watch coverage of the trial.

Yikes! factor: Lewinsky surrendered a blue dress  that she said contained physical evidence.

Postscript: Bill stayed in office; Hillary won a Senate seat , lost a presidential nomination and is now secretary of state.

Jim McGreevey

When: August 2004 

Infidelity:  Had an affair with Golan Cipel , a man who had served as his aide.

Making it worse: Cipel denied the affair, saying he had been sexually harassed.

Stand by me: McGreevey's wife, Dina Matos , joined him at the news conference, then later divorced him and wrote a memoir . Watch coverage of the divorce.

Lost:  Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: His wife said that she did not know he was gay and that he duped her into marriage to advance his career. See them together.

Postscript: McGreevey enrolled in divinity school at General Theological Seminar.

David Vitter

When: July 2007

 Infidelity:  Phone number appeared in the records of a high-end Washington prostitution ring.

Making it worse: Had long championed family values, morality and ethics.

Stand by me: His wife, Wendy Vitter, defended him, saying their marriage was "not perfect."

Lost: Seemingly nothing; refused to relinquish Senate seat, remains married.

Yikes! factor: The madam of a high-priced brothel called him "one of the nicest and most honorable men I've met." Who is she.

Postscript:  Won his 2010 re-election campaign.

Larry Craig

When: June 2007

Infidelity:  Arrested in a Minneapolis airport men's room, where police said he tapped his foot to signal interest in sexual activity.

Making it worse: Police said he handed his business card to the arresting officer and asked, "What do you think of that?"

Stand by me: His wife, Suzanne , held his hand at the news conference.

Lost: Didn't quit but decided not to run for another Senate term and left office in 2008.

Yikes! factor:  How did he explain how his foot touched that of the undercover cop in the next stall?

Postscript: Craig started a consulting group.

Eliot Spitzer

Position: Former New York governor

When: March 2008 

Infidelity: Caught on a federal wiretap in March 2008 arranging to meet a high-priced call girl.

Making it worse: Signed a law raising the penalties for patronizing prostitutes.

Stand by me: His wife looked grim and exhausted at the news conference.

Lost:  Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: Known as Client No. 9.

Postscript: Wrote a column for an online news site and co-hosts a CNN show.

John Edwards

Position: Former senator

When: August 2008

Infidelity: Affair with former campaign videographer Rielle Hunter ; denied fathering her child.

Making it worse: First denied tabloid reports; later noted that his wife's cancer was in remission at the time of the affair.

Stand by me: Wife Elizabeth Edwards (now deceased) backed him; in her book  said she didn't know if he had fathered Hunter's child.

Lost: Could damage a future presidential bid.

Yikes! factor: National Enquirer  caught him visiting Hunter at a hotel; published photo of him allegedly holding the baby.

Postscript: Andrew Young, Edwards' aide who initially claimed to be the child's father, reportedly has book deal.

John Ensign

Position: Former U.S. senator from Nevada

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Cindy Hampton, a former aide.

Making it worse: Hampton was married to a staffer in the senator's office.

Stand by me: Wife Darlene Ensign reaffirmed her commitment to him.

Lost:  Resigned in May 2011 amid an ethics probe.

Yikes! factor: Ensign claimed that Cindy Hampton's husband had demanded money.

Postscript: May face criminal charges.

Mark Sanford

Position: Former South Carolina governor

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Maria Belen Chapur , a woman living in Argentina  he called his "soul mate"

Making it worse: Visited Chapur on Father's Day, leaving his children with his wife of nearly 20 years.

Stand by me: Wife  had asked for a trial separation two weeks earlier; issued a statement saying she loved her husband.

Lost: Remained in office through January 2011, amid calls for resignation; stepped down as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Yikes! factor: Disappeared for several days to Argentina, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Postscript: Stay tuned.